Elvi Rhodes (1916-2015) was born and brought up in Yorkshire, and lived on the Sussex Coast for many years.

Having always written stories, alongside her various day jobs, it was only at the age of 67 that Elvi published her first novel, Opal. This was quickly followed by more bestselling novels, 20 in all, many set in Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales. 

She described herself as a storyteller, saying "I don't write my novels to further a cause, or to put forward a particular point of view. I just have a story in my head which I hope you'll want to hear, one which will entertain you, perhaps take you out of yourself to some other place. Writing is all about communication and if through my books I communicate with my readers, then that's great."